Crain's Detroit Business articles from February 2003

Crain's Detroit Business archives from February 2003

Detroit should cut departments, alter tax collection, study says.(News)(Committee on Operational and Financial Re-engineering's study)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Robert Ankeny The city of Detroit needs to reduce the number of departments, centralize functions and let the county and state collect its taxes, according to a study from a committee of 27 business, education, community and labor...

Crain's offers daily e-mail update.(News)
February 3, 2003... Crainsdetroit.com has introduced a daily e-mail news service. The e-mail will contain a roundup of breaking news, stories of interest from other Crain publications, and news and links from other sources. Registered Web users can sign up for...

People.(multiple industry appointments and promotions in the Detroit area)
February 3, 2003... construction Loren Venegas to president, The Ideal Group, Detroit, from vice president. Contractors Jason Ryan to vice president of sales, Midstates Alliance Group, Clarkston, from national sales manager, Opticore Inc., Troy. ...

Corrections.(Correction)(Correction Notice)
February 3, 2003... * An incorrect Internet address was given for the Marketing and Sales Executives of Detroit Web site in a Jan. 27 Briefly item. The correct address is www.msedetroit.org. * The list of leading industrial leases of 2002 on Page 18 of the...

Take a hard look, and do the right thing.(Opinion)(ethical aspects and regulation of businesses and accounting)(Column)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Frank Hennessey The new year is traditionally when many of us make resolutions. It is also a good time for corporate executives to reassess where they've been, where they are and where they're going. Is your 2003 business...

Highland Park, Budco are happy together; Marketing company leads reinvestment in struggling enclave.(News)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Robert Ankeny Budco, a growing marketing and communications company, planted roots in Highland Park after Detroit missed its shot at the company. Highland Park is counting its blessing. Budco, which opened its $30 million...

Development chief honored.(News)(Walter Watkins Jr. honored with the James E. Stamps award from the United Negro College Fund)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Robert Ankeny Walter Watkins Jr., Detroit's development czar, was honored Friday by the National Council of the United Negro College Fund with the James E. Stamps Award. The award was presented at the alumni recognition banquet...

Mr. Supplier goes to Washington; Industry looks for more ways to have its voice heard.(News)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky Wallace Smith hadn't been to Washington in his entire career. Now the owner of Plymouth-based auto supplier E&E Manufacturing Co. Inc. is a frequent visitor. Smith and other suppliers think their industry's lack...

A storm offshore; IRS takes close look at investment shelters that could leave owners soaking wet.(Special Report)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Katie Merx In the 1980s, real estate tax shelters got investors in trouble with the Internal Revenue Service. Now offshore investments have corporate executives, wealthy individuals and several tax advisers under scrutiny. A...

Tougher rules likely to dry up boardroom candidates.(Special Report)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Katie Merx The end effect of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may be the demise of the part-time directorship, several corporate advisers said. The new corporate-governance act certainly makes it more difficult to fill board seats,...

This Just In.
February 3, 2003... Herman Gardens revamp said to be in negotiations New plans are in the works for Herman Gardens, the west-side Detroit housing project originally scheduled for redevelopment several years ago. Jamaine Dickens, press secretary for...

Companies honored for HR innovations.(News)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Area companies and the United Auto Workers will be honored for their human-resources practices Feb. 6 at the Seventh Annual Arbor Awards for Excellence ceremony, 7:30-9:30 a.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn. The 2003 recipients are: *...

Detroit seeks site, landlord for police headquarters.(News)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Robert Ankeny The city of Detroit is looking for land and a landlord for its proposed new police headquarters. ``Our (request for qualifications) is really a site request,'' said Henry Hagood, director of development...

Week in Review.(business briefs, US)
February 3, 2003... Kmart gets OK to begin closing 318 stores, get $2B in financing Kmart Corp. received court approval to close 318 stores and for a $2 billion loan package for use after it leaves bankruptcy protection. Troy-based Kmart originally had said it...

Electronics recycling firm looks to power up $8M plant in Oakland County.(Michigan)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Andrew Dietderich Construction is expected to begin by the end of the year on at least one new electronic-waste recycling plant worth up to $8 million in Oakland County. Martin Seaman, manager of Oakland County's...

Terms of service.(News)(Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act governs reserves and employers. The law: * Prohibits discrimination based on military service. * Requires employers to reinstate employees for up to five years upon return...

Rumblings.(multiple briefs)
February 3, 2003... The Smithsonian. The Met. The Henry Ford? Two California consultants led the complex formerly known as Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village to its new name. Hunt Design Associates, Pasadena, Calif., and La Brecque, Los Angeles, which...

Call to duty; Businesses prepare for reserve call-ups in event of war.(Cover Story)(Cover Story)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Laura Bailey Shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the University of Michigan Health System human-resources department surveyed all managers to determine how a massive reserve call-up would affect operations. ...

Subcontractors on the hook in fight over stadium overruns.(Cover Story)(Cover Story)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Robert Ankeny More than a dozen local subcontractors say a $30 million dispute involving the builders of Ford Field has left them unpaid to the tune of $2.5 million. Detroit-based Gordon F. Laramie & Sons Inc. has filed a...

Compuware readies product flurry; Software faces tough competition.(News)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Andrew Dietderich Compuware Corp. hopes to rebound in 2003 on the strength of new products, including 18 mainframe offerings it will roll out over the coming months. But analysts say the products are entering a lackluster...

Flagstar plans to add 100 branches; Expansion would more than double company's size.(Cover Story)(Flagstar Bancorp Inc.)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Katie Merx At a time when many businesses are looking to cut costs, Flagstar Bancorp Inc. in Troy is preparing to more than double its size by opening 100 bank branches. The 15-year-old company plans to open about 20 branches a...

Mending fences, fixing finances; Meadow Brook Hall, Theatre hope to benefit from new marketing plans, end to Concours dispute.(News)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Laura Bailey Supporters of Meadow Brook Hall and Meadow Brook Theatre think operations are on the mend after the bad economy and a rift over a classic-car show widened deficits over the past two years. The hall and theater are...

Bankruptcies.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... The following businesses filed for Chapter 7 or 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit the week of Jan. 20-24. Under Chapter 11, a company files a reorganization plan that the court must approve. Chapter 7 involves total liquidation....

After turbulence, new Metro terminal starts to soar.(News)(Edward H. McNamara/Northwest World Gateway terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Michael Strong One year after opening, the Edward H. McNamara/Northwest World Gateway terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport gets positive reviews from travelers and businesses in the terminal as well as its owners and operators....

Detroit to conduct scouting report on proposals for Tiger Stadium site.(News)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Robert Ankeny Officials at the Detroit Planning and Development Department are to meet soon, perhaps later this week, with groups that have submitted proposals for redeveloping Tiger Stadium, said Henry Hagood, Detroit's director...

Minor cuts just won't cut it as state ponders $1.7B deficit.(News)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Amy Lane Nickel-and-dime measures aren't going to solve Michigan's $1.7 billion problem in its general-fund budget. But hefty budget cuts in the largest areas of state spending could lead to double-digit tuition increases,...

Learning from experience; Management consultants say track record vital for Lions' next hire.(News)(replacement for recently fired head coach Marty Mornhinweg)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Michael Strong Experience and talent are what Detroit Lions President and CEO Matt Millen needs to look for as he searches for a replacement for recently fired head coach Marty Mornhinweg. Crain's asked local management...

Calendar.(business owners' conferences)
February 3, 2003... tuesday feb. 4 Financial Choices for the Small Business Owner. Meeting of the Women Business Owners of Southeast Michigan. 6:30 p.m. Speaker: Tom Denk, Edward Jones & Co. Georgetown Country Club, 1365 King George Blvd., Ann Arbor....

Unemployment, workers' comp may split again.(News)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Amy Lane A year ago, then-Gov. John Engler merged the state's workers' compensation and unemployment operations. Now, Gov. Jennifer Granholm could split them. State economic-development chief David Hollister confirmed last...

Kmart's challenge: Finding willing execs.(News)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Brent Snavely The future of Kmart Corp. depends in part on an executive team that doesn't exist and a board of directors that hasn't been named. What's more, Kmart's aggressive timetable to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy by...

Now is the time to start moving the ball.(Column)(Superbowl in Detroit in 3 years)
February 3, 2003... Byline: KEITH CRAIN Be careful what you wish for. Watching this year's Super Bowl in person or on television, as just about half the country did, made us realize very quickly that those folks are coming to Detroit. They are coming to...

Confidence to be topic.(News)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... ``Restoring Public Confidence: What Corporations Need to Do'' is the topic of the Feb. 12 ``Ideas Before Dawn'' breakfast meeting co-sponsored by Crain's Detroit Business and Detroit Downtown Inc. Scheduled speakers are John Bava, regional...

Tax plan could prompt corporations to move to C; Dividend proposal would change equation for S-corps., L.L.C.s.(Special Report)(S corporations)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Katie Merx Companies operating as S corporations and limited-liability companies could lose many of their benefits if President Bush's proposal to stop taxing dividends passes into law, one local tax expert said. Tony Ilardi...

Flying high.(News)(Detroit Metropolitan Airport)(Edward H. McNamara/Northwest World Gateway)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... The new Edward H. McNamara/Northwest World Gateway at Detroit Metropolitan Airport received the following kudos: * Readers of TravelQuality.com ranked the airport the fourth-best in the world in a voting that took place between May and...

Lear hopes debt cuts land it in driver's seat.(News)
February 3, 2003... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky Lear Corp. had plenty of good news in its earnings report last week, but most important to Wall Street was its debt reduction. The Southfield-based auto interior supplier has a history of being heavily...

Oversight's challenges.(Opinion)
February 3, 2003... The Wall Street Journal reported Jan. 21 that the number of companies issuing financial restatements jumped 22 percent in 2002 to a record 330 because of accounting errors. Meanwhile, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, created by...

Letters.
February 3, 2003... It's not water under the bridge Editor: The Jan. 20 Crain's stated that Moody's Investors Service downgraded the Detroit Water Department's debt of $992 million (This Just In: ``Moody's downgrades water-system debt''). Questions...

Business Diary.(News)(Gordon Advisors P.C., Troy, acquired the accounting firm Mack & Megerian P.C.,)
February 3, 2003... acquisitions Gordon Advisors P.C., Troy, acquired the accounting firm Mack & Megerian P.C., Southfield, on Jan. 1. Terms were not disclosed. contracts Albert Kahn Associates Inc., Detroit, has been commissioned by Acheson Ventures...

The Editorial.(Opinion)(Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Upon hearing that Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village is going to rename itself ``The Henry Ford: America's Greatest History Attraction,'' we thought, ``What the... the?'' The new name is designed to appeal to out-of-towners, so maybe...

Developer plans homes for Girl Scout camp property.(News)(St. Dennis Development Inc. buys Camp Narrin from Girl Scouts of Metro Detroit)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Andrew Dietderich Thousands of women may have spent time at a 200-acre Girl Scout camp in northern Oakland County, but soon the only evidence may be Trefoil Road - named after a Girl Scout cookie and part of a 78-home development...

Syntel's profits have institutional investors tuned in; stock's rising.(News)(Syntel Inc.)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Andrew Dietderich In a time when many technology stocks are down, Troy-based Syntel Inc. has managed to buck the trend and win the favor of institutional investors, who have increased their holdings in the company 46 percent in the...

Cobo Center: Grow or go; Pressure builds for solution to convention center's lack of space.(Special Report)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Robert Ankeny Expand Cobo Center, or start planning a new convention center for Detroit. Meeting and convention officials say those are the options if the city wants to keep its major events, such as the North American...

Masco stock declining despite hot housing market.(News)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Michael Strong Housing starts are up again, interests rates are at historic lows, and revenue is at an all-time high for Masco Corp. But the company's stock price has dropped more than $2 a share over the past five weeks. ...

HAP boosts employee-pay plans; Move part of trend to cut employer health costs.(News)(Health Alliance Plan)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Katie Merx In an effort to stanch employers' spiraling health care costs, Henry Ford Health System's insurance arm is bolstering its product line in what the system's president and CEO, Gail Warden, calls a top priority for 2003....

This Just In.(local briefs)
February 10, 2003... Deal for Motorola Building could bring record price The Bloomfield Hills-based Kojaian Cos. is negotiating a deal to sell the Motorola Building in its Farmington Hills Corporate Campus for a record-setting amount, real estate sources said....

UM's Martin draws on biz experience as Olympics chief.(News)(University of Michigan, Bill Martin)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky, Jennette Smith When the presidency of the U.S. Olympic Committee fell into Bill Martin's lap last week, he found himself in familiar territory. Infighting led to the resignation of USOC President Marty...

Building a collection; Suburban now largest private auto chain in Michigan.(Suburban Collection expands through acquisitions)(Cover Story)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Brent Snavely The Suburban Collection's rapid pace of automotive dealership acquisitions has helped the company become the largest privately held dealership chain in Michigan. Founded in 1948 by Richard Fischer as a single...

Budget shortfall to put squeeze on culture, libraries.(News)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Amy Lane Arts and cultural organizations may see less money from Lansing as the Granholm administration cuts spending to erase a $1.7 billion budget problem in 2004. Art-grant funding could drop by more than $3 million, from...

Kmart's ex-food consultant: It can handle groceries.(News)(Dick King)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Brent Snavely Kmart Corp.'s former food consultant said last week that the bankrupt retailer has the people and warehouse space needed to manage the distribution of nonperishable groceries. ``They have the capability; they have...

State eyes contracts in quest to get lean; Board to review all big purchases.(Cover Story)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Amy Lane Doing business with state government isn't going to be business as usual. From construction to advertising, food service to information technology, the dollars the state spends to buy goods and services are coming...

The controversy.(News)(U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Lloyd Ward, Energy Management Technologies L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Lloyd Ward, a Romulus native and former CEO of Maytag Corp., has come under fire for directing a U.S. Olympic staffer to introduce a friend's Detroit-based company to Pan American Games...

Bankruptcies.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2003... The following businesses filed for Chapter 7 or 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit the week of Jan. 27-31. Under Chapter 11, a company files a reorganization plan that the court must approve. Chapter 7 involves total liquidation....

AAA Michigan board has new chairman, other officers.(Rick Inatome elected chairman of the board of the Automobile Club of Michigan)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Joanne Scharich Rick Inatome, chairman of Mentor Capital Partners and CEO of Inatome Ventures, was elected Tuesday to a one-year term as chairman of the board of the Automobile Club of Michigan in Dearborn. Inatome was first...

Granholm to speak.(News)
February 10, 2003... Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Crain's Newsmaker of the Year for 2002, will speak at a joint luncheon meeting of the Detroit Economic Club and Women's Economic Club at noon Feb. 19 at Cobo Center. Tickets to the Newsmaker of the Year luncheon are $30...

Maybe it's time to take a fresh look at Cobo.(what to do about Cobo Center)(Column)
February 10, 2003... Byline: KEITH CRAIN Everybody's talking about Cobo Center. It's about time. The facility is too small, and its principal occupant, the Detroit Auto Dealers Association, needs a lot more space because of the success of the North American...

Rumblings.(Column)
February 10, 2003... Ex-Economic Club exec plans to write a book For more than a half-century, Don Luther helped arrange big events at what then was called The Economic Club of Detroit. Now, in retirement, his love for the club and its role in Detroit...

E-mail offers a little wit with your news.(Column)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Mary Kramer If you're like me, your e-mail in-box clogs up faster than northbound I-75 at rush hour. So far, though, we think our free daily e-mail news service we launched in early January is cutting through the clutter. ...

Making a plan to expand.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Robert Ankeny Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has assigned his chief development officer, Walter Watkins, to head a committee to study how to expand Cobo Center and how to pay for it. Watkins has accelerated the pace of meetings to get...

Granholm must be bold in making cuts.(Governor Jennifer Granholm; Opinion)
February 10, 2003... Gov. Jennifer Granholm's first State of the State address was both a rousing pep talk for the people of Michigan and an obvious attempt to soften up the voters and the Legislature for the tough realities of her budget address, scheduled for...

Noble appeal may delay payment to DCT workers.(Noble International Ltd.; News)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky About $1.1 million for former DCT Inc. employees is at stake in a battle between the trustee handling the company's bankruptcy and Noble International Ltd. The Chapter 7 DCT estate won a $1.1 million arbitration...

Blight Busters puts $1.6M into theater plan.(News)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Robert Ankeny An 80-year-old Redford Township landmark that already has undergone major restoration now awaits final work to complete a 350-seat community auditorium on its third floor, the president of Motor City Blight Busters...

Ex-owner offers to pay part of worker claims.(Bronce Henderson III; News)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky Employees of DCT Inc. may get part of what's owed them from the person many blame for the shortfall. Former owner Bronce Henderson III proposed paying 10 percent of the $661,000 that former employees claimed...

Briefly.(Briefs)
February 10, 2003... Bank One looks to sublease downtown office space About 135,000 square feet of office space at Bank One Corp.'s 17-story building at 611 Woodward Ave. in downtown Detroit is being marketed for sublease. The bank has hired the Southfield...

Environmental firm EQ bulks up with 2 acquisitions.(News)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Brent Snavely For the second time in two months, Wayne-based EQ - The Environmental Co. has moved into a new market by buying a bankrupt company. EQ got permission Jan. 30 from U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Boston to buy the assets...

Revving up.(News)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2003... Dealership purchases made by the Suburban Collection: 1999 * Saturn of Grand Rapids. * Saturn of Kalamazoo. * Saturn of Holland. * Fischer Buick-Mazda-Subaru of Troy.* 2000 * Suburban Honda of Farmington Hills.**...

Business Diary.(Briefs)(includes, Wickman Corp. acquired by Tyrolit Group)
February 10, 2003... acquisitions The Wickman Corp., an Oak Park manufacturer of superabrasive grinding wheels, hones and associated products, has been acquired by the Tyrolit Group. Tyrolit is an Austrian manufacturer of grinding, cutting, sawing and drilling...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
February 10, 2003... War is wrong choice for nation Editor: Please give my ``kudos'' to Keith Crain. He's the first person in executive authority who has come out and stated how we Americans truly feel about the Bush vendetta - war (Keith Crain: ``Not...

Northwest may be next with low-cost subsidiary.(Cover Story)(Northwest Airlines Corp.)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Michael Strong Analysts covering Northwest Airlines Corp. think the world's fourth-largest airline is going to establish its own low-cost carrier in an attempt to improve its finances. The idea behind a possible low-cost...

Ford Field scores as site for meetings.(Special Report)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Jennette Smith Ford Field made a solid first down in its efforts to attract meetings and conventions. Ford Field has averaged more than 40 nonfootball events a month, said Joan LeMahieu, general manager of the stadium. ...

Detroit: No vacancy; New hotels may not bring enough rooms.(Special Report)(Book Cadillac Hotel renovation)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Robert Ankeny Downtown Detroit's ailing hospitality inventory could get a shot in the arm with a $150 million renovation of the long-shuttered Book Cadillac Hotel. But the planned 500 rooms, along with more coming, still would...

Week in Review.(Review)(local briefs)
February 10, 2003... Conaway asks for Kmart insurance to pay for lawyers Former Kmart Corp. Chairman and CEO Charles Conaway has requested in court that the retailer's insurance policies pay for his defense in shareholder and employee lawsuits. *...

People.(employee changes, various companies)
February 10, 2003... architecture Kevin Shultis to principal, SmithGroup Inc., Detroit, from Learning Studio leader, Michigan office. Also, Terry Guitar to principal from architectural core team leader, Learning Studio; Jill Stewart to principal from senior...

Bureau begins PR campaign to changes images of Detroit.(Special Report)(Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Jennette Smith Larry Alexander wants the national media to stop using Detroit as a dirty word. ``It hurts when we hear people use Detroit as the kicking stone for anything bad,'' said Alexander, president and CEO of the...

Landing the big fish; Research, tenacity can give small businesses the right hook.(News)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Laura Bailey When small-business owner Sharon Mann heard that casinos were coming to Detroit, she and her small staff flew to Las Vegas to learn everything they could about the gambling business. Mann did what many...

Details of the deal.(News)(EQ - The Environmental Co. acquires Franklin Environmental Services Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2003... * Wayne-based EQ - The Environmental Co. bought the assets of Franklin Environmental Services Inc. of Wrentham, Mass. * Franklin provides decontamination, cleaning, emergency response and other services. * Price of the deal was $1.5...

Breakfast's topic: Restoring confidence.(News)
February 10, 2003... Byline: Joanne Scharich "Restoring Public Confidence: What Corporations Need to Do" is the topic of the Feb. 12 "Ideas Before Dawn" breakfast meeting co-sponsored by Crain's Detroit Business and Detroit Downtown Inc. Scheduled...

Using the right bait.(News)
February 10, 2003... * Be persistent but not pesky. * Network with industry groups and small-business groups. * Ask purchasing managers whether opportunities exist to partner with large vendors. * Be professional. Don't look "small." * Do your...

Filling Warden's chair; 6 candidates for next Henry Ford chief.(News)(Gail Warden, Henry Ford Health System)
February 17, 2003... Byline: Katie Merx Henry Ford Health System is considering six candidates to succeed President and CEO Gail Warden and could choose the Detroit-based health system's next leader as early as March, executive recruiters said. Warden's...

$93M in development planned for growing South Lyon area.(Real Estate)
February 17, 2003... Byline: Andrew Dietderich Two planned South Lyon developments worth more than $93 million could add more than 200 homes and a 28-acre mixed-use development to the rapidly growing area. Brighton-based Boardwalk Investment Group plans...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
February 17, 2003... * An incorrect company name was listed in a story about Highland Park on Page 16 of the Feb. 3 issue. The company's name is Diverse Engineering Simulation Solutions Inc., 134 E. Manchester St. * The price for 90 acres of land sales at the...

This Just In.(local briefs)
February 17, 2003... Life Sciences Corridor could see smaller cut The Michigan Life Sciences Corridor may see a $12.5 million cut in funding, not the $25 million initially considered by the Granholm administration. The smaller cut is expected to be part of...

A rosy sales picture.(News)(flower sales for Valentine's Day)(Brief Article)
February 17, 2003... Byline: Brent Snavely Last week, it's likely that more roses were sold in metro Detroit than during any other week of the year. On Friday alone, Viviano Flower Shops Inc. in St. Clair Shores was expecting to make more than 2,400 flower...

State looks to charge those that want to discharge wastewater.(News)
February 17, 2003... Byline: Amy Lane Businesses and municipalities that discharge treated wastewater into Michigan waterways may face a new fee for the right to do so. The Granholm administration is considering charging fees for the permits issued under...

Visteon's new HQ to start rising in April.(News)
February 17, 2003... Byline: Jennette Smith, Terry Kosdrosky Structural steel is to start rising in April on Visteon Corp.'s Van Buren Township headquarters, after the company finishes site preparation. However, real estate sources say it will be hard for...